Synchronous electric alarm-clock



Marc h 11, 1947.

A. W. KELLY SYNGHRQNOUS ELECTRIC ALARM-CLOCK MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l mnwro/e ANDREW W. KELLY MAGNET/c MATERIAL 3/ /q /5 /5 F'i G. B. I

March 11, 1947. w KELLY I 2,417,254

SYNCHRONOUS ELECTRIC ALARM-CLOCK MECHANISM 4 Filed March 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

JfAsA/irlc \MTERML I lmmwrok ANDREW W. KELLY B/WMPW Arrolelviys Patented Mar. 11, 1947 SYN CHRONOUS ELECTRIC ALARM- CLOCK MECHANISM Andrew W. Kelly, Bristol, Conn, assignor to The Sessions Clock Company, Forestville, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application March 23, 1945, 'Serial No. 584,286

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electric alarm clock mechanisms and .relates more particularly to electric alarm clock mechanisms which include a synchronous electric motor for timekeeping purposes, as well as eiectrically operated audible signal .means.

One of the main objects of the present inven tion is to provide a superior synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism which may be produced at a low cost for manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior mechanism of the character referred to in which the energizing coil of the synchronous electric motor may also be utilized to produce an audible signal or alarm.

.A further object 'of thepresent invention is to provide a superior synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism characterized by simplicity, compactness and reliability of operation, and in which a vibrating armature may be actuated by the magnetic field of a synchronous electric motor in such manner as to insure vigorous effective movement :of the said armature but without depriving the synchronous motor of its capacity to accurately keep time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a superior mechanism of the character referred to which will provide a vigorous and effective sound when desired but which maybe rendered inoperative by simple and reliable means.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features 'in the said disclosure which are novel overthe prior 'art.

.In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a rear face view of asynchronous electric alarm clock mechanism embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 airont face view of the mechanism;

Fig.4 is a central sectional view taken on the line p-inf Fig. ly'and Fig. '5 isa'perspective view :of the-vibrator or armature, detached.

The synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism shown the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustrating one form .of the present invention, includes a synchronous electric motor generally designated by the reference character [Band whichhas its forward .face seated against the rear face of a rear movement plate H.

2 Spaced forwardly of and extending in parallelism withthe rear movement-plate i l is a front movement plate i2 coupled to the said rear movement plate by four (more or less) pillars it.

The synchronous electric motor ii! above referred to is preferably-of the self starting type and in the instance shown includes acup-shaped pole piece generally designated by the reference character it anda complemental .plate like pole piece generally designated by the reference character 15.

The cup-shaped pole piece l4 includes alateral wall or flange l8 which extends rearwardly from an integral end wall H, as is especially Well shown in Fig. i. The rearportion of the flange it just referred to is suitably notched to provide a plurality of unshaded pole salients l8 and a plurality of shaded pole salients l9. Both the unshaded pole salients l8 and the shaded .pole salients l9 just referred to extend rearwardly fromand are integral with the flange l6 of the pole piece 14 and are arranged annularly, so that the said pole salients H3 and I9 alternate with each other in a circumferential direction.

To effect the shading of the pole salients I!) of the pole piece it, four (more or less) shading rings 20 are employed 'in superimposed relationship, as is especially well shown in Figs. 2'and 4. The said shading rings-are preferably formed of copper or other suitable high electroconductive material and-are pierced to closely fit and extend entirely around each of the shaded pole salients Hi, to effect a lag in the magnetic flux flowing therethrough. The shading rings 20 are also pierced to clear the unshaded pole salients l-8 and, to avoid providing an electrical path around the latter, each of the said shading rings is formed in its inner edge with a p urality of substantially radial inwardly opening notches 2|.

The plate like pole piece l5 of the synchronous electric motor Iii-is concentric with the cupshaped pole piece !4 and has its rear or outer face arranged flush with the respective rear or outer ends of the pole salients l8 and I9. The said plate like pole piece 15 is formedin its edge with a plurality of pole salients 22 extending radialiy and eachof'which substantially contacts one of the shaded pole salients IQ of the pole piece M, as is especially well-shown in Pg. 1.

Preferably and as shown. therespective outer edges of the pole salients 22 are flush with the outer faces of the annular series of pole salients lB-and ill.

The pole pieces l4 and I5 above referred to are preferably formed of softiron, though other suitable magnetic material may be employed. The said pole pieces are interconnected centrally by a tubular core piece 23 which is also formed of magnetic material. The said core piece 23 is arranged concentrically with the pole pieces 1 4 and i5 and extends between the central portion of the end wall ll of the cup-shaped pole piece I4 and the central portion of the plate like pole piece l5, as is shown in Fig. 4. The tubular core piece 23 is shouldered at its respective opposite ends as is shown in Fig. 4, and may be force-fitted into the respective central portions of the end wall I? of the pole piece l4 and the central portion of the pole piece I 5', to tie the two said pole pieces together.

Tightly fitting the forward end of the central longitudinal passage 24 in the tubular core piece 23, is a front bearing block 25. Tightly fitting the rear portion of the passage 24 is a similar bearing block constituting a rear bearing block 26.

Encircling the core piece 23 and located between the rear face of the end wall I! of the pole piece I4 and the front face of the plate like pole piece I5. is a ring-like energizing coil 21 provided with two terminal leads 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are adapted to be connected to any suitable source of alternating current such, for instance, as the 110-volt GO-cycle alternating current available in most homes. I Cooperating with the stator structure which includes the elements l4 to 23 inclusive, is a rotor unit generally designated by the reference character-38. The said rotor unit 30 includes a shallow cup-shaped skeletonized mounting member 3|, a magnetic rin 32, a bushing 33, and a drive or rotor-shaft 34.

The cup-shaped mounting member 3| of the rotor unit 39 has its flange directed forwardly so as to overlap the rear portion of the stator structure and to closely approach the rear face of the rearmost of the group of shading rings 20. The said mounting member may be conveniently formed of aluminum or other suitable nonmagnetic material and has drive fitted within its forwardly projecting flange, the magnetic ring 32 which latter is formed of hardened steel or other suitable permanent magnet material. The bushing 33 before referred to is rigidly mounted in the center of the mounting member 3| and, in turn, is rigidly mounted upon the projecting rear end of the rotor shaft 34. v The rotor'shaft, in turn, extends axially through the interior of the tubular core piece 23 and is supported for rotation in the bearing blocks 25 and 26 therein. The forward end oi. the rotor shaft 34 projects into the space between the movement plates H and I2 so as to be available for connection to any suitable time train (not shown) which may be accommodated in the said space in a manner usual in the clock art.

' The space in'the passage 24 in the core piece 23 between the front bearing block 25 and the rear bearing block 26 may be utilized to accommodate a body of lubricant.

- Mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel with the rotor shaft 34 but intersecting the lateral wall or flange N5 of the cup-shaped pole piece i4, is'a rod-l ke armature or vibrator 35. The said armature 35 is formed wholly or partly of magnetic material and has its rear end locatedadjacent the front or inner face of the plate like pole piece l5 and normally slightly spaced forwardly therefrom, as is indicated in Figs. 2

and 4.-' -The lateral-wall Id of the cup-shaped 4 pole piece I4 is cut away as at 36 to accommodate the armature 35, while the end wall I! of the said pole piece is also cut away as at 31 for a similar purpose. The immediately adjacent unshaded pole salient i8 is also cut away as at 38 to clear the adjacent portion of the armature 35. Similarly, the adjacent portion of the group of shading rings 2i is notched as at 39 to accommodate the said armature.

- As before noted, the forward portion of the armature or vibrator 35 extends through and is supported in both the rear movement plate ii and the front movement plate i2. Integral with and projecting axially forwardly from the front face 40 of the armature 35 is a shut-off stem 4| designed for purposes as will hereinafter appear. The front face of the armature 35 normally rests against the rear faceof the bifurcated end 42 of a stop plate 43.

The stop plate 43 extends substantially parallel with and is spaced forwardly of the front movement plate 12 by means of a spacing block 44 located beneath the end of the said stop plate which is remote from its bifurcated end 42. An attaching screw 45 extends through the 'stop' plate 43 and the spacin block 44 into the front movement plate i2, to thereby firmly attach the adjacent end of the said stop plate to the said front movement plate l2.

The spacing of the bifurcated end 42 of the stop plate 43 forwardly of the front movement plate I2 is such as to normally hold the rear end of the armature 35 at its minimum spacing from the forward face of the plate'like pole piece l5. For purposes of flexing the stop plate 43 to increase the gap between the rear end of the armature 35 and the forward face of the pole piece l5, the said stop plate has an adjusting screw 46 threaded through it. The said adjusting screw is located substantially midway between the bifurcated end of the stop plate and its opposite end through which the attaching screw 45 (ax-- tends, and has its rear end engaged with the for; Ward face of the front movement plate l2, as is especially well shown in Fig. 2.

For purposes of normally holding the front face 40 of the armature 35 in engagement with the rear face of the bifurcated end 42 of the stop plate 43, a helical armature-spring 41 is employed. The said armature spring encircles the portion of the armature 35 lying intermediate the rear movement plate H and the rear face of an integral col ar 48 formed on the said armature adjacent the forward end thereof. The rear end of the armature spring l'l is seated against the forward face of the rear movement'platerl l, while the forward end of the said, armature spring is seated against the rear face of the collar 43 and serves to yieldingly urge the armature 35 forwardly until the front face 40 thereof is seated against the rear face of the bifurcated end 42 of the stop plate 43.

For purposes of-rendering the armature 3.5 inoperative, a shut-off lever 49 is employed. The said shut-off lever extends substantially parallel with the front movement plate 12 and is held in spaced relationship forwardly thereof by a spacing sleeve 59 located about midway the length of the shut-off lever 49 and interposed between the rear face of the latter and the front face of the front movement plate 12, as is especially well shown in Fig. 4. i I j l Extending'rearwardly through the shut-off lever 49 and through thespacing sleeve into threaded engagement with the front movement plate I2, is a-pivot screw-|. The lower portion of the shut-01f lever 49 is formed with aforwardly sloping cam finger 52 which normally rides just forwardly of the forward face of the stop plate 43 and is adapted to be swung into camming engagement with the rear end of the shut-oii stem ii of the armature 35 to force the said armature rearwardly and firmly hold the rear 'end of the said armature in engagement with the forward face of the plate-like pole piece [5.

The shut-off lever 49 above described may be both manually operated and may also be automatically operated by any suitable alarm control means (not shown) forming a feature of a suitable clock mechanism driven by the rotor shaft 34 in a. general manner well known in the alarm clock art.

When the terminal leads 28 and 29 of the tenergizing coil 27 are connected to a suitablesourc'e of alternating current, the unshaded pole .salients I8 of the pole piece l4 and the pole salients '22 of the pole piece 55 will have respectively imparted thereto magnetic polarities of opposite instantaneous character. The magnetization just referred to will be followed almost immediately (about 90 electrical degrees later) by magnetization of the shaded pole salients 19. The magnetic field thus created will provide a synchronous rotating field efiect and will act on the hardened magnetic ring 32 of the rotor unit 30 to both start the same and bring it up to and maintain it at synchronous speed.

The turning of the rotor unit 35 will, of course, turn the rotor shaft 34 and the projecting forward end thereof may, as has been before noted, be connected to any suitable clockwork mechanism to propel the same synchronously.

When the shut-off lever 49 is turned into the position in which it is shown by full lines in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the armature 35 will be free to move axially. At any given instant, magnetic flux of one instantaneous polarity from the cup-shaped pole piece M will leak across to the rear portion of the armature 35, thus imparting to the rear 1 end of the said armature a similar polarity. At the same instant, the particular pole salient 22 of the plate like pole piece adjacent which the said armature is located, will be of opposite instantaneous polarity and will pull the said armature rearwardy against the tension of the armature spring 4'1. As soon as the magnetic flux falls substantially to zero value, the armature sprin All will assert itself and move the armature 35 forwardly until its forward face 40 engages with the rear face of the stop plate 43. The next half cycle of the current flowing through the energizing coil 2'! will again cause the armature 35 to be again drawn rearwardly and so on as long as the said armature is free to reciprocate.

The impact of the rear end of the armature or vibrator 35 against the pole piece 15 and the impact of the forward face of the said armature against the stop pate 43, will produce a vigorous buzzing sound admirably suited for wakening a sleeper.

When it is desired to render the armature or vibrator 35 inoperative, the shut-off lever 49 may be swung into the position in which it is indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3, to thereby cause the cam finger 52 thereof to engage with the rear end of the shut-off stem M of the said armature, and thus force the armature rearwardly until its rear face is held firmly in engagement with the forward face of the plate like pole 6 piece .115. Under the :conditions last described, the armature '35wi11 befirmly, held against vibration until the shut-off lever 49 or its equivalent is :again'restored, either automatically or manually, to the position in which it is shown by full lines in Figs. .2, '3, and 4.

By meansozf the construction and arrangement shown, asynchronous electric alarm clock mechanism maybe provided which is not only economical to manufacture and reliable in operation, but which possesses-a highly desirable degree of lateral compactness which will enable the mechanism to be mounted in relatively small diametered cases.

The invention 'may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore,to be considered in all respects as illustrative and 'not'restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respective'ly of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located; a rotor unit extending adjacent both of the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; and a rod-like vibrat' armature having its longitudinal axis 'z in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation 'of the-said rotor unit,'the said rod-like armature extending closely-adjacent both of the said "complementalpole pieces in position to provide a magnetic .flux "path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the vltemating magnetic flux developed in the said pole pieces by the said energizing coil.

2. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric :motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located, and also providing a lateral wall portion extending along the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil: a rotor unit extending adjacent both the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; .and a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit and with the periphery of the lateral wall portion of the'stator structure, the said rod-like armature extending'closely adjacent both of the said com plernental pole pieces and the said lateral wall portion in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed in. the said pole pieces by the said energizing coil.

3. A synchronouselectric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which said energizing coil is located, and also providing a lateral wall portion extending along the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil and spaced outwardly therefrom to provide an armature accommodating space; a rotor unit extending adjacent both the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit and with the lateral wall portion of the stator structure, the said rodlike armature extending in the space between the said lateral wall portion and the outer periphcry of the said energizing coil in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed in the said pole pieces by the said energizing coil,

4. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ringlike energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located, and also providing a lateral wall portion extending along the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil, the said lateral wall portion being cut away to provide a clearance passage for the hereinafter mentioned armature; a rotor unit extending adjacent both the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; and a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit through the clearance passage in the lateral wall portion of the stator structure, the said rod-like armature extending closely adjacent both of the said complemental pole pieces and the said lateral wall portion in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed in the said pole pieces by the said energizing coil.

5. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-lil e energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located, at least one of the said pole pieces being of cup-shaped form having a lateral wall portion extending along the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil; a rotor unit extending adjacent both the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; and a rod-like vibrating armature hav ing its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of said rotor unit the said rod-like armature extending closely adjacent both of the said complemental pole pieces in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating maghaving a lateral wall portion extending in substantial parallelism with but spaced outwardly from the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil to provide a space for the accommodation of thehereinafter mentioned armature; a rotor unit extending adjacent both the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; and a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit and with the lateral wall portion of the cupshaped pole piece, the said rod-like armature extending mainly in the space between the lateral wall portion of the said cup-shaped pole pieces and the outer periphery of the said energizing coil in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed in the said pole pieces by the said energizing coil.

'7. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, a cup-shaped pole piece receiving the said ring-like energizing 0011, a plate-like pole piece extending across the otherwise open end of the said cup-shaped pole piece; a rotor unit extending adjacent both of the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; and a rodlike vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit, the said rod-like armature extend ng closely adjacent both the said cup-shaped pole piece and the said platelike pole piece in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed therein by the said energizing coil.

8. A synchronous electric alarm clock mecha nism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, a cup-shaped pole piece receiving the said ring-like energizing coil and having its lateral wall portion located outwardly with respect to the periphery of the said ring-like energizing coil to provide an armature accommodating space, a plate-like pole piece extending across the otherwise open end of the said cupshaped pole p ece; a rotor unit extending adjacent both of the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the, axis of rotation of the said rotor unit and with the lateral wall portion of the said cup-shaped pole piece, the said rodlike armature extending in the armature accommodating space between the lateral wall portion of the said cup-shaped pole piece and the periphcry of the said energizing coil in close proximity to the said plate-like pole piece and in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed therein by the said energizing coil.

9. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a ring-like energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located; a rotor 9 unit extending adjacent both of the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; a vibrating armature extending closely adjacent both of the said complemental pole pieces in position to provide a magnetic flux path between the two said pole pieces and in position to be vibrated by the alternating magnetic flux developed in the said 7 pole pieces by the said energizing coil; and a cam-like shut-off member constructed and arranged to jam the said armature against one of the said pole pieces to inhibit the vibration of the said armature,

10. A synchronous electric alarm clock mechanism, including in combination: a synchronous electric motor stator structure having a. ring-like energizing coil, two complemental pole pieces respectively of opposite instantaneous polarities and together providing a hollow structure in which the said energizing coil is located; a rotor unit extending adjacent both of the complemental pole pieces of the stator structure in position to be synchronously rotated thereby; a rod-like vibrating armature having its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of rotation of the said rotor unit, the said rod-like armature extending closely adjacent both of the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 'Iisseyre et a1. May 21, 1935 Cowles May 21, 1935 Lawrence et a1 July 16, 1935 Carlson et a1 July 23, 1935 Perlman Feb. 2, 1937 Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date British Mar. 14, 1939 Number 

